Book-rest



No Model.)

P. A. POWELL.

BOOK REST.

N0. 422,443. Patented Mar. 4. 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANK A. POWELL, OF HEBRON, NEBRASKA.

BOOK-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,443, dated March 4,1890.

Application filed April 29, 1889.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. PQWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hebron, in the county of Thayer and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful Book-Rest, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to book-rests, and is especially adapted foruse upon school and other desks.

Among the main objects of the invention are to provide a cheap andsimple rest that may be compactly folded when notin use and pushed outof the way, and which may be adjusted at any distance from the eyes ofthe operator, thus obviating the necessity of bending over the desk.

A further object of the invention is to provide the rest with a pen andpencil rack, whereby it not only serves the function of a rest, but alsoa rack.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will hereinafter appear andthe novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the restconstructed in accord ance with my invention, the same being ex tendedand in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the rest beingfolded or packed as when not in use. Fig. 3 is a side, elevation. Fig. 4is a detail of one of the adjust. ing-arms. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

1 represents the base of the rest, and to the same is secured arearsupporting-wall 2, from which project rearward-disposed feet 3. The wall2 is located at a right angle to the base, but by reason of thebevelingof said base at its lower edges, as at 4, and for the further reason ofthe contour of the feet, said wall is normally maintained at an incline.

In practicing my invention it is probable that I. will cast the base,wall, and feet in a single piece of light metal, though I may-cast thesame separately and secure by anysuita ble means.

5 represents a flap, which is hinged to the upper edge of the wall 2, asat 5*, said flap being of a Width adapted to fold down upon the wall 2and within the base 1, and also rectly to the rear or at an angle.

Serial No. 308,987- (No model.)

adapted, when unfolded, to form an extension of the wall 2. Upon therear face of the flap there is provided a spring pencil and pen rack 6,in this instance formed by corrugating a piece of spring metal theterminals of which are secured to the fiap.

Pivoted,'as at 7,'to the front edge of the base 1, at each end thereof,is a spring-arm 8, the ends of which are turned, as at 9, and areadapted for maintaining the book open when the same is mounted upon therack and to be folded down against the edge of the base when not in use.

10 represents alazy-tong adjustment, one end of the adjustment beingconnected to a plate 18, secured to the desk near its rear end, and theopposite end of the adjustment being connected to the rear face of the1nclined wall 3.

The toggle-connection consists of a series of connected levers orarms'll, pivoted to each other, as at 12, the end section or arm 13being arranged transversely, secured to the desktop, and the oppositeend arm 14 being similarly secured to the rest.

By raising, the flap a book may be placed in position, the lower edge ofthe book resting upon the base, and thebook will be maintained in anopen position by means of the spring-arms, which are swung out and overthe same. By drawing the rest in or out or to the right or left the bookwill be given such a position as will secure the best light, and will beat such a distance from the eyes of the reader as best adapted to hissight. In fact, it will be apparent that the rest has a universalmovement in a horizontal plane. By returning the spring-arms to theirfolded position the book may be removed and the flap folded down uponthe inclined Wall, when the pen-rack will be in easy reach of the userand the rack may be pushed aside either (li- WVhen pushed to the rear,the toggle connection folds, the levers folding one upon the other.

In. order that the adjustable connection may not be accidentally drawnout, so as to bring the arms-in line with each other, and thus renderthe connection liable to resist folding, or, if folded, to do the samein an irregular manner, some of the levers going in one direction andothers in an opposite direction, I

; adjacent lever.

have provided a means for limiting the outward movement or extension ofthe connection. The means employed consist in providing each of the armsof the connection at one end with a recess 16, the edge of which isconcentric with the pivot of the lever, and at the opposite end there isprovided an upturned lug 17, so that the lug of one lever JJIGS in andrides in the curved recess of the I n this manner the tog-'COllllCCtiOll can onlybe opened to a certain uegree.

The plate 18 is fastened to the rear of the desk-top by means ofordinary screws and has its front edge beveled, as at 19, and in rearofthe same is arranged a longitudinal lockinggroove 20. Secured to theunder side of the rest atits front is a lug 21, which extends down evenwith the bottom of the rest and is adapted when the rest is pushed backto ride up the bevel 19 and raise the rest and take in the groove 20,whereby the restis locked.

For thepurpose of adjusting the inclination of the flap of the rest, Iprovide the rear face of the same with a bearing-lug 22, upon which, "bymeans of a set-screw 23, is pivoted a rod 24, at the free end of whichis formed a bearingeye 25, through which is passed a set-screw 26, theend of the shank of which is designed to bear against the rear of theflap, and thus change the inclination of the same and a book tlmreon.\Vhen not in use, the rod may be Folded down out of position.

I lavin g thus described my inventioi'i, \vhatI claim is-- l. Thecombination, with a desk or other fixed support, of a book-rest and of atoggleconnection having one end secured to the rest and its opposite endto the desk, each of the arms composing the connect-ion having one endrecessed and the other provided with a lug, the lug of one arm riding inthe recess of the other, whereby the extension of the connection islimited, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the base 1, of the wall 2, formed at a rightangle thereto, and the wall being cut away, as at 4, and the latterbeing provided with rearward-extending feet 3, of the hinged liap 5,hinged, as at 5 to the upper edge of the wall, and the spring-arms 8,pivoted, as at 7, to the front edge of the base, substantially asspecified.

The combination, with the herein-dc scribed rest and the top or othersupport, of

the toggle-connection 10, consisting of the arms 11, pivoted, as at 12,and notched or recessed, as at 16, at one end and at the other endprovided with the bent lug 17, substantia ly as specified.

1. The combination, with a desk-top, of the plate 18, beveled, as at 19,and grooved, as at 20, the toggle-connection connected thereto at oneend and at its other end to the rest, and a lug, as 2], connected to therest and adapted to ride up the bevel and lock in the groove,substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the rest 2, provided with the hinged flap 5, ofthe lug 22, the pivoted rod 2 1 and its screw 23, and having the eye 25,provided with the screw 26, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. POWELL.

Witnesses:

G. N. FOWLER, M. A. SMITH.

